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Taiwan remains polarised after key mayoral races
2006-12-11
Taiwan's ruling party's surprise triumph in a tight mayoral race shows it has limited any damage from the high-profile corruption scandal implicating President Chen Shui-bian, analysts say. The result also sent a message to the opposition Kuomintang's (KMT) leader Ma Ying-jeou -- currently the most likely KMT candidate to run for the 2008 presidential polls -- that he has a lot of work to do. With the Kaohsiung victory, "Chen has survived the mounting pressure from within his party," said Wu Tung-yeh, professor of National Chengchi University. "Chen would (otherwise) have had to face challenges from the party's reform-minded politicians," said Emile Sheng, a political science professor at Soochow University. Despite his success, the academics warned Chen not to become complacent. "Supporters would like to give the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) another chance, but I believe if the DPP and Chen dare to ignore their strong desire for reform, the party will pay dearly next time," Sheng said. Last month, the DPP was forced to suspend the membership of Chen's wife, Wu Shu-chen, after her indictment by prosecutors for claiming 14.8 million Taiwan dollars (450,000 US) in personal expenses from state funds. The president is suspected of graft and forgery in the same case, but is immune from indictment until he leaves office. He has denied any wrongdoing and refused to step down. Two DPP lawmakers dropped a bombshell last month by quitting parliament to protest the party's refusal to suspend the president's membership. Chen has survived three opposition recall motions in parliament to push him out of office before his second four-year term expires in 2008. The KMT's Ma had tried to link the president's graft allegations with the DPP's mayoral candidates, calling for a "no-confidence" vote against the president. In Kaohsiung, the DPP's traditional stronghold, Chen Chu, the DPP's candidate, beat her KMT rival Huang Chun-ying by a narrow margin of 1,144 votes in a disputed race. Chen Chu won 49.41 percent of the vote against 49.27 percent for Huang, according to the Central Electoral Commission. The KMT defeated the DPP in Taipei. A district court in Kaohsiung has since ordered the sealing of ballot boxes after the KMT claimed evidence of vote-rigging in a crunch mayoral election. Analysts said the mixed results indicated that Taiwan remained split by ideology, with those residents seeking independence forming a majority in the south and those favouring improved ties with rival China dominating the north. "The DPP successfully played the so-called 'Taiwanization card' in the run-up to the vote ... The party told supporters, 'vote for DPP candidates or Taiwan would be sold out by the KMT'," Sheng said. "And the supporters bought the story. They were convinced that maintaining Taiwan's sovereignty is of supreme value over the opposition's graft allegations." The independence-leaning DPP has talked tough against Beijing, despite China's repeated threats to invade Taiwan should the island declare formal independence. The fact that the KMT failed to unseat the DPP in Kaohsiung should be sounding alarm bells for Ma, Wu Tung-yeh said. "Ma's charisma has not impressed Kaohsiung residents and turned around the political spectrum there," Wu said. "That should be a warning signal for Ma if he (intends) to vie for the next presidency." Compounding the KMT's loss in Kaohsiung was the DPP's significant gain of votes in Taipei. DPP candidate Frank Hsieh collected 40.89 percent of the cast ballots, up 5.6 percent or 140,000 votes compared with Taipei's mayoral race four years ago. Ma, dubbed "Mr Teflon" for his long-standing efforts to battle graft, was somewhat tarnished after he was investigated for allegedly embezzling "special expenses" meant for public affairs as the mayor of Taipei, allegations he categorically denied. "Ma must overhaul staff, adding new blood with different ideas," said Liu Bi-rung, another political science professor of Soochow University. Liu also blamed Ma's poor relationship with another KMT heavyweight, parliament speaker Wang Jin-pyng, as well as his deteriorating ties with the KMT's ally People First Party for the disappointing result.
Taiwan nationalists celebrate vote victory (2008-01-13)Taiwan opposition wins vote by landslide (2008-01-12)Taiwan remains polarised after key mayoral races (2006-12-11)Taiwan court seals ballot boxes amid election dispute (2006-12-11)Taiwan votes for city mayors, ruling party on trial (2006-12-09)
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